7 Reasons Your Cat May Be Meowing Constantly

Stress is just one of many reasons your cat may be meowing all the time. By: Flo

If you’re like me, you want to know what your cat is trying to convey (especially when he won’t shush). From “Hello!” to hunger, here are some possible explanations for constant meowing.

1. Cry for Attention

Your cat may simply want your attention, perhaps to play or because he’s bored.

Don’t respond every time your cat meows — instead, provide attention when he becomes quiet. If he keeps singing the meow song, walk away until he calms down.

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Walking away is for excessive meowing, but make sure to spend time with your cat every day (he’s part of your family, after all). Playing with your cat also provides a proper amount of exercise, essential for his well-being.

Keep rewarding the quiet behavior and ignoring the constant meowing. Rewarding your cat for his calmness can help curb the noises, but it might still be a long process.

Before you reach for the cat treats, consider using your cat’s kibble instead. If you’re working with this method consistently, you don’t want to increase the junk food in his diet.

2. Under the Weather

Meowing is one way a cat communicates, and he may be trying to tell you that he doesn’t feel well. Cats are good at hiding illnesses, and meowing or making noise without showing interest in food could be a warning sign of disease that needs attention.

Constant meowing could be a sign of an overactive thyroid, kidney disease, problems urinating or a host of other health issues. If this behavior is something new in your cat, it’s worth a trip to the vet.

3. Hunger

My cat usually only meows for 2 things: a potty-related reason or food.

If his bowl is empty, he makes sure to let me know. Once a day, usually in the evening, he gets canned food instead of dry food. He seems programmed to this ritual and will meow when walking around the kitchen and waiting for his special meal.

Make sure your cat is getting the proper amount of food and is eating at the appropriate times. And while you’re at it, check that the cat’s water bowl is full.

4. Stress

Changes in the home, new people, new animals or other causes could stress your cat out.

If your cat is meowing a lot during these changes, it could be an occasional “I don’t like this” meow or a constant, loud “I’m really mad about this!” noise.

Of course, your cat can’t tell you this, so keep an eye out for new changes that may upset him and interact with him as much as you can. If you are adding an animal to your household, properly socialize the new pet with your cat to avoid behavioral issues.

5. Old Age and Confusion

Disorientation is not uncommon, and your cat may meow out of frustration or confusion. Leave a light on at night if your cat vocalizes then or if he’s bumping into things. It also can’t hurt to have the vet take a look if it’s something more serious.

Check out the range of noises this little meow-machine makes in this video:

6. It’s That Time of the Month

Female cats in heat can become very vocal suddenly. They do this to attract males. Males are also noisy if they detect a cat in heat nearby.

Do yourself and the feline overpopulation problem a favor — have your cat spayed or neutered.

7. Hello!

Sometimes your cat may be meowing simply to say, “Hello.”

Does your cat meow at specific times, like when you walk in from work or wake up in the morning? (I usually get a paw to the face, but not all cats do that.) If your cat quiets down after offering a greeting, it’s not problematic. But if you notice the behavior increasing substantially, something else may be the cause, and then it’s a great idea to talk with your vet about it.

Interaction, Not Punishment, Is Key

Interact with your cat and try to calm him if the vocalizations become worrisome. Don’t yell at, hit or scold your cat for meowing — apart from not being nice, this may cause fear and insecurity and hence further behavioral issues in your cat.

A trip to the vet for a checkup can rule out sickness. Also, talk with your vet about methods you have tried and what you can do to effectively curb your kitty’s noisy meows.

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About Kristine Lacoste

Kristine Lacoste, managing editor of Pets Adviser, is an author, poet and pet lover from Louisiana. She is the author of an award-nominated book, One Unforgettable Journey, and host of a weekly pet news segment on the "National K-9 Academy Radio Show." She is also the New Orleans coordinator for Dogs on Deployment, a nonprofit that helps military members and their pets. Kristine's love of animals started at a young age with cats, dogs and many frogs. Read more:About Pets Adviser

Sal

I grew up with a lovely wee cat who wouldn’t so much as meow but ‘yelp’ (as my mum would say. There were different kinds of yelps depending on what she wanted. We put the yelp down to her being half tortoiseshell and Scottish wildcat!